Oct 26 2004
Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has developed a blue light-emitting diode (LED) based on gallium nitride (GaN) having brightness at the highest level on the market. SDK will start marketing the product next year for such growing applications as mobile phones, outdoor displays, illumination and automotive devices.
The new 12 mW LED with a flip chip structure has been developed by combining SDK’s proprietary technologies for the production of compound semiconductors and hard disk media. Compared with the existing products on the market, the newly developed LED has additional advantages of low forward voltage and low electricity consumption.
Thus, the new product is expected to be used in backlighting of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and in photoflash units of mobile phones. Furthermore, as the unique flip chip structure provides better heat dissipation and higher reliability, the new product will find applications in automotive devices and general illumination.
SDK is now constructing a plant in Chiba to produce 30 million units a month of GaN-based blue LED chips. Sample shipment will begin in November this year. Commercial production will start next year, and the company plans to sell 30 million units per month by year-end. SDK is planning to expand the production capacity to meet a growing demand and to increase the annual sales to ¥20 billion in 2008.
GaN LED chips, which emit near ultraviolet to green light at wavelengths of 360-530 nm, are now used mainly in backlighting for LCDs and keypad light source for mobile phones.
Blue LEDs can be combined with fluorescent materials to provide white lighting. With the improvement in power, demand for blue LEDs will increase rapidly for use in car headlights and general illumination. Furthermore, blue LEDs can be combined with GaN green LEDs and aluminum indium gallium phosphide (AlInGaP) red LEDs for use in color displays and backlighting of LCD TV screens. It is therefore predicted that the market for GaN LEDs will continue to grow at an annual rate of 20% or more.
For more information on LEDs, click here.